Reclining sofa or divan



(No Model.)

W. J. MADDOX.

-REULINING SOFA 0R DIVA N.

No. 365,266. Patented June 21, 1887.

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Erica ATENT RECLINING SOFA OR DIVAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 365,266, dated June 21, 1887.

Application filed July Q4, 1886.

T 0 all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM J. MADDoX, of Scranton, in the county of Lackawanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reclining Sofas or Divans; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification, and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon.

My present invention relates to improvements in reclining sofas or lounges; and it has for its object to provide a lounge having a head-section adapted to be adjusted to any desired angle relative to the main portion, so that the occupant can recline at any angle or lie horizontal, if desired; and it consistsin suitable devices for supporting the head-section, so as to render it easily adjustable to any angle and automatically locked in such adjusted position; and it further consists in certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter deseribed,and pointed out particularly in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a lounge constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on theline ma; of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 9 y of Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures indicate the same parts.

A represents the main frame of the lounge, consisting of the horizontal side timbers, a a, the end timbers, I) b, and the cross-timber B, near the head, the whole supported upon the legs or standards a e. The frame is upholstered on its upper side in the usual manner,

as shown, except the portion between the timber 13 and the end of the sides, which is pro vided with a covering or casing, c c, for the portion of the operative parts of the lounge. 0 is the back of the lounge, preferably provided on its lower side with the standards adapted to fit into sockets d (I, applied to the rear side of the main frame, as shown.

E represents the headsection hinged to the cross-timber B in 'any suitable manner by hinges F F, and upholstered to correspond Serial No. 209,981.

(No model.)

with the portion A. To the under side of the section E, a short distance from its inner end, is pivoted a rod or link, G, extending down ward and projecting through the casing c c, where it is connected with a cord or chain, H, which latter passes up parallel with the link and over a pulley, I, secured to the lower timber, e, of the casing, thence through the timberB into the main frame, where it is connected to one end of a spiral or other suitable spring, J, the other end of which is connected to the foot-railbby means of a rod or link connection, K. The tendency of this spring is to contract, draw upon the end H, and raise the hinged section E to vertical position through the link G, and it will be seen that the angle that section E maintains relative to the main portion A can be varied by exerting more or less pressure upon it against the tension of the sprin Thus an elastic spring headsection is provided which will adjust itself to the varying weights applied to it.

In order to secure the sect-ion in the position to which it is adjusted, I provide an auto matic fastening device, now about to be de scribed. I

Preferably within the casing c is pivoted a cam-lever, L, extending across to the rear side of the main frame and connected at its outer or longer end by a link or red, M, with one end of a spring, N, the other end of the latter being secured to the main frame, prefer. bly by staples O, as shown. The inner end of the cam-lever L abuts against the rod or link G, supporting the head-section E, and the spring N, pulling upon the outer end of the lever, holds it tightly pressed in contact therewith, the frietion between the rod and lever preventing the motion of the former up or down until released. If desired, the surface of the rod may be roughened or provided with a series of notches, to afford a firmer grip of the lever upon it; but ordinarily I prefer to employ a smooth rod and rely upon the friction between the rod and lever, the latter having such a long leverage that great power can be obtained and the rod held securely.

As a means for conveniently releasing the cam lever and adjusting the angle of the headpiece, I provide a lover, 1, within convenient reach of the reclining operator, pivoted to the frame and secured to the rod M, as shown, so

that by a movement of this lever the rod can be moved against the tension of the spring, moving the end of the lever out of engagement with the rod G and permitting the springJ to raise the section or the latter to be adjusted, as desired.

From the above the operations of the device will be at once apparent. When desired to adjust the head-section, it is only necessary to move the lever P toward the head, moving thecam-lever, releasing the rod G, and permitting the spring J to raise it to the desired positio.n,or to be depressed against the tension of the spring, then releasing the lever P, when the spring N will retain it in normal position, causing the cam-lever to clamp and hold the rod G, as before. It is obvious that various modifications of the invention can be devised without departing from the spirit of my invention-as, for instance, compression or torsional springs might be used in place of the ones shown, and also the connection between the springs and the movable section and the cam-lever might be varied, if desired. It will also be noted that the head or movable section is pivoted some distance back of the end of pecially adapted to be applied to lounges, it

can as well be applied to reclining orsurgieal chairs without any essential alteration.

The device is simple, easily operated, and can be manufactured much cheaper than the reclining lounges or chairs now in use.

Having'thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. The combination, with the main frame, of the head-section pivoted thereto, the link, a spring operating to raise the pivdted section, the cam-lever for engaging the link and looking it in position, and the spring operating to hold the cam-lever in engagement with the link, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the main frame, of

the head-section pivoted thereto, the link, a spring operating'to raise the pivoted section, the camlever for engaging the link and looking it in position, the spring operating to hold the cam-lever in engagement with the link,and the lever for withdrawing the cam-lever from engagement against the tension of the spring, substantially as described.

3. The combination,with the main frame and the head-section,of the link, the cordconnected thereto, the pulley, and the spring, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the main frame, of'

the headsection pivoted thereto, the link connected to the head-section, aspring operating to raise the link and through it the head-section, and the cam-locking device operating directly upon the link to secure it in position, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the main frame, of the head section pivoted thereto, the link connected to the head-section, the cord connected to the link and passing over the pulley, and the spring connected to the cord and to the main frame operating to draw upon the cord, raise the link, and throughit the head-sec tion, and a locking device mounted upon the main frame for securing the head portion in the desired position, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with the main frame, of the headsection pivoted thereto, the link connected to the head-section, the cord connected to the link and passing over the pulley, and the spring connected to the cord and to the main frame, and a locking device mounted upon the main frame and operating directly upon the link to secure the head-section in desired position, substantially as described.

7. In a reclining sofa or lounge, the combination, with the main frame supported upon thelegs, of thehead-section pivoted to the main frame at a point within the supporting-leg base ofthe lounge, substantially as described.

WVILLIAM J. MADDOX.

\Vitnesscs:

HENRY'A. KNAPP, A. B. WILLrAMs. 

